China and Norway will enhance cooperation on Arctic academic research, as an agreement was signed Monday between the China Association for Scientific Expeditions and the University of Courses on Svalbard in Norway.

Under the agreement, the two parties will conduct joint research on Arctic geophysics, Arctic geology, biology and Arctic Technology/Engineering, and exchange of scholars and students as well as research data.

Founded in 1994 in Longyearbyen, the capital of the Svalbard Islands, the university is an important Arctic study institute with 14 professors and 240 students from 20 countries. It hosts some 180 guest professors and lecturers from around the world every year.

The China Yilite-Mornring Arctic Scientific Expedition and Research team arrived at the Svalbard Islands on October 19 and is continuing investigations into building the country's first scientific research station there.

(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2001)